NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lion baseball team opened the 2019 season with a 23-12 loss against Alabama State in the Andre Dawson Classic at Maestri Field on the campus of the University of New Orleans.
Ryan Mallison had two hits, including a grand slam, and drove in five runs.
Austin Krzeminski had a solo homer in the game and scored a pair of runs.
Bryce Roesch had two hits including a double and drove in three runs, and
Sergio Esparza had two hits including a double and scored a run.
The Golden Lions got off to a fast start in the top of the first.
Jarficur Parker was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a double to right center by Mallison.
Sergio Esparza then singled to center, scoring Mallison for a 2-0 UAPB lead.
Trailing 11-2 after two innings, the Golden Lions scored eight runs in the third, all with two outs. Esparza and
Ricardo Sanchez each walked with one out. With two out,
Nick Kreutzer walked to load the bases. Roesch then hit a bases-clearing double to left center to cut the cut deficit to 11-5.
Larry Sims and
Braelin Hence each walked to reload the bases. On a payoff pitch, Mallison hit a grand slam to right to bring UAPB to within one at 11-10.
However, Alabama State scored four in the bottom of the third and pulled away from there.
UAPB returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m. against Alcorn at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
